Madhya Pradesh: Kamal Nath took oath as the 18th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh at a ceremony held at the Jamboree Maidan on Monday. Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Kamal Nath.

Politicians present at the oath taking ceremony suggested an attempt at forging Opposition unity ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Bahujan Samajwadi Party Supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav although were conspicuous by their absence even though their parties are supporting the Congress in Madhya Pradesh. A photo op was held at the end of the ceremony to display the unity.

Among the dignitaries that were present on the occasion were his onetime cabinet colleague, former PM Manmohan Singh, former PM HD Deve Gowda, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, former union ministers Sharad Pawar, Sharad Yadav, Prafull Patel, Anand Sharma, Farooq Abdullah and Dinesh Trivedi.

Former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia with whom Kamal Nath had to contend with over selection of Chief Minister was present as was former CM Digvijaya Singh who was taking care of the arrangements. Just before the oath, Scindia supporters in the crowd started raising pro Scindia slogans.

The BJP was represented by its parties’ former CMs Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Kailash Joshi and Babulal Gaur. Newly sworn in CM of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot, Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu were present besides DMK leaders MK Stalin and Kanimozhi. The RJD was represented by Lalu Yadav’s son Tejaswi Yadav.

Congress leaders and popular campaigners Navjyot Singh Sidhu and Raj Babbar were also present.

Kamal Nath’s family including sons Nakul and Bakul Nath were also present.

Soon after the oath ceremony, CM Kamal Nath left for inaugurating the annexe of the Mantralaya which would serve as the new office of the Chief Minister.